Albright, al-Sharaa review Middle East peace in New York
Syria-Regional-USA, Politics, 9/23/1999

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa met on Wednesday morning in New York with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The two officials reviewed the Middle East peace process's various aspects and the efforts made by the UN to resume negotiations, particularly on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

Albright stressed her country's desire to following up on its efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Al-Sharaa described his meeting with Albright as "fruitful and useful." Replying to a question, al-Sharaa said the US side plays the role of the mediator in order to eliminate disputes and find out common basics to resuming talks from the point where they broke off.

Al-Sharaa added that the US is fully aware that the document deposited documents with her that include the consent of the former Israeli government of Yitzhak Rabin for complete withdrawal from the Golan, which is considered the ground for resuming negotiations from the point they broke off.

On the possibility of meeting again with Albright, al-Sharaa said: "It was agreed to continue contacts." He did not rule out another meeting with Albright during the coming days.

On Wednesday afternoon, al-Sharaa met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem. The two ministers discussed bilateral relations between Syria and Turkey in their various aspects.

Viewpoints were identical on the need to draw the basis providing for deepening these relations in all areas. It was agreed to intensify contacts and meetings between the two countries' officials and to form a work group in each of the two countries' Foreign Ministries to follow up on all aspects of bilateral relations as well as to submit the necessary recommendations to deal with all matters of concern to the two countries with no exception.

At the premises of the Syrian mission at the UN, al-Sharaa met with the European Union's Middle East peace process special envoy, Miguel Moratinos. Talks dealt with the Middle East peace process and the European efforts exerted to give it a push forward, especially on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

On Tuesday night, al-Sharaa met with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharazi. The talks between the two ministers dealt with "conditions in the region, developments concerning the Middle East peace process and bilateral relations between Syria and Iran. Viewpoints were identical on continued strengthening and development of these relations.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Sharaa meets with counterparts in New York   (9/22/1999)
  Al-Sharaa meets with Arab, foreign counterparts in New York   (9/21/1999)
  On al-Sharaa's statements in Paris   (9/20/1999)

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